Shelving,Unit,And,Baskets,With,Clean,Towels,And,Toiletries,Near

Fresh bath towels

There is nothing worse than pulling a bath towel from the cupboard and noticing that it does not smell clean.

When shopping for new bath towels we naturally steer towards thick absorbent towels as they feel good and dry us off really well but thick towels will hold onto that moisture long after you have used it and moisture leads to bacteria which then leads to unpleasant smells. YUK

Keep your towels well aired in between uses.

When you get out of the bath or shower and hang up your towel you need to keep the air circulating so your towel does not grow any bacteria. If you have a window to your bathroom throw it open, even if it is cold outside you need to dry your bathroom off and get some air through your towels. If you don’t have a window use your ventilation fan.

When drying forget hooks as these do not offer your towels enough air, instead opt for towel rails, this way you can stretch out your towel fully and allow the air to circulate to all off the towel before bacteria starts to grow.

If you have room on your washing line and it is a good drying day pop outside and let it air dry for 30 minutes or so.

How to wash bath towels

Towels are thick, heavy, and designed to absorb water. So when it goes into your washing machine, it’s going to absorb all of the water and laundry products you are using.  The key with washing towels is to never over use laundry products, stick to the correct dosage as displayed on the packaging/bottle. You may think that because they are bigger and thicker than other items you wash that you will need more but trust me you don’t. Using too much product can actually make your towels smell bad!

Make sure not to overfill your washing machine, with towels think less is more. Using the correct dose of detergent and not overloading your machine will help the water evenly distribute and properly rinse those towels. 

Wash towels together and not with other laundry, washing towels with clothes can transfer germs and bacteria between items in the wash. For sanitary reasons, you should always wash bath towels separately from clothing items. Putting towels in their own load also makes it easier to adjust the setting if you are washing different colour towels be sure to add in a colour catcher. It’s also easier to dry towels in the same load since damp towels dry slower than most clothes. Towels will also rub against your clothes, shortening their lifespan.

Say NO to fabric conditioner

Trust me fabric conditioner is doing your towels no favours and will take away the absorbency and the soft bouncing feeling. Fabric conditioner is actually a soft wax coating that conditions clothes, makes them feel softer and loosens fibres. If you loosen the fibres in your towels the absorbency will slowly disappear.

If you are wanting to use fabric conditioner because you want your towels to smell fresh and give the bathroom an added scent then use it in every 3rd or 4th towel wash.

My top tip for soft fluffy towels is to use white vinegar, white vinegar is a natural disinfectant so will add in an extra layer of protection to element bacteria even when washing at lower temperatures and the vinegar will strip away and residue that is in your towels from products.

Don’t worry your towels will not come out smelling of vinegar as the smell disperses.

The DO’s and DON’T’s of fabric conditioner

Shake towels before drying

Give your towels a shake when taking them out of the washing machine. This will help fluff them and aid absorbency. Shaking your towels also helps prevent them from twisting into a ball in the dryer, lengthening their drying time.

How to Dry Towels

Ensure that towels are dry when you remove them from the tumble dryer, keeping in mind that clothes dry quicker than towels so the cycle will be longer. Even slightly damp towels can quickly mildew. The best dryer setting for towels is the regular or automatic setting that you use for other durable fabrics. This will use the highest heat and be most efficient in getting the job done. Avoid over-drying as it can destroy the individual cotton fibers. Use tumble dryer balls to keep the air flowing freely and speed up the dryer time, the balls absorb water and I recommend using 6 dryer balls for a towel load.

Drying outside is always my preferred option for towels, they normally line dry within 3 to 6 hours dependent on the weather, good quality towels will always come in soft and fluffy. If your towels are coming in a little crisp and hard pop them in the dryer for 5 minutes before you put them away or in the bathroom.

If you don’t have a tumble dryer to use over the winter months it is worth bearing in mind that towels can take up to 24 hours to dry indoors, ensure they are well spaced out on a drying rack in a well ventilated space.

Follow Towel Care Instructions

Good-quality bath towels can last for 10 years with proper care. Always check the label on your towels for particular care instructions before proceeding with washing and drying.

I have been a huge fan of Hampton and Astley towels for many years, they wash beautifully. So for me it is definitely worth paying a little extra for good quality long lasting towels.

Want to learn more laundry tips then grab a copy of one of my books and I will show you how to clean your house and tidy up your life

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Sick,Man,Sneezing,In,The,Kleenex,In,Winter

Keep your home germ free this winter

We have had the loveliest summer here in the UK but I get the feeling winter is going to hit us with a real bang. With winter comes the cold and flu season. People will be coughing in supermarkets and  the germs will be flying around and unexpectedly hitting us.

During the colder months it is very important to make sure we try to keep our homes germ free.  There are a few basic steps we can all do to help stop the spread of germs and keep our homes germ free.

Hand Washing

It still baffles me that people don’t wash their hands as they come out of the toilet! Washing your hands really is important and really does stop the spread of germs.  The best way to wash your hand is with warm soapy and whilst washing you should pay particular attention to in between your fingers and count to 15 this way you know you have given your hands a really good clean. Wash your hand as soon as you come in as whilst you are out and about you will be touching many germ hot spots from door handles, shopping trolley, shopping baskets, coffee tables and keyboards.

I have invested in one of these Trolley Bags that acts as a basket for those quick trips to the supermarket. I really do highly recommend getting one.

To get your hand on one of these bags take a look here

Keep a small bottle of hand sanitiser in your handbag or pocket and use this as much as you can whilst out and about. Hand sanitiser won’t kill all the germs but it is certainly better than nothing!

Wipe down sides and door handles in your home.

Use an antibacterial spray and cloth to wipe down items people touch frequently such as phones, door handles, drawers, work surfaces, tables, remote controls, the fridge door, toilet handles and seat, light switches, computer keyboards and so on. if you can try to make a point and do this daily.  The dettol antibacterial spray is also really quick and easy to use as all you need to do is simply spray.

Put the toilet seat down when flushing and not in use

Toilets are some of the most germ-infected places in your home. Deep Clean your toilets at least once a week. Try to put down the lid of your toilet seat prior to flushing, to prevent bacteria and germ-infected water from landing on other surfaces in your bathroom, where it can survive for a couple of hours.The germs from your toilet can even hit your ceiling and do not store your toothbrush near your toilet.

Use a good toilet brush too that keeps germs safely locked away. I am a huge fan of this one as it’s not a brush top TOILET BRUSH

Disinfect your cleaning cloths and sponges.

Was these after ever use. There are a few simple ways to keep these clean.  Put them in the dishwasher on the top shelf, pop them in the microwave and run for a few minutes. soak them in boiling water and a disinfecting product whilst you are out or put them in the washing machine on a hot wash. The higher the temperature the better as the heat will kill the bacteria.

Shoes off

Do not let anyone wear shoes in your house. Encourage guests to remove their shoes. Leave a basket near the front door to back this up. You don’t want any mud and dirt coming into your home and spreading germs. If anyone is resilient about taking off their shoes due to health and safety etc. Offer them some Shoe covers

Carpet Cleaning

This is a good time of the year to clean your carpets. Try get into the habit of cleaning carpets once a quarter. I have linked here the one I have this is affordable and works very well. Carpet Cleaner

Bedding and towels

Regularly change bedding and towels and avoid sharing them. When finished with you towel make sure you hang it and keep the bathroom window open so your towel airs and driers. Try to prevent towels touching each other when being used by other household members. .

Invest in a Humidifier

Using a humidifier over the winter months can really help. They improve sleep, help you breather better, cough less and improve sinuses. You really don’t have to spend a lot of money on one of these either.  I use this one in Jake’s room – Cool Mist humidifier

I hope you have found this useful, you could always wear a face mask but that is not always practical! 

Thanks for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo

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